Creative Services is currently working on extensive testing to make sure the new department websites are accessible and usable in a wide range of web browsers and operating systems, from Internet Explorer (IE) to the newest browser on the web, Google Chrome. If you are using a really old version of IE (version 6 or earlier) or any other browser, now would be a great time to upgrade!

Internet Explorer 6 is a widely used but severely outdated browser; it's nearly 8 years old, which is practically ancient in Internet years! Popular websites like YouTube and Digg are starting to drop support for IE6 in favor of more modern browsers, and JMU's own recommended minimum computer configuration requires Internet Explorer 7.

When we build our websites, we strive to make them functional in the widest range of browsers possible. If you view our new websites in IE6, however, you will be greeted with a message prompting you to upgrade your browser. Upgrading to a more recent browser, like Internet Explorer 8 or FireFox 3.5, is important so that you may experience all of the features of our new websites as they were intended. Essential parts of the new department sites will still work in IE6 (with a little help from Javascript), but everything looks better and functions optimally in modern browsers.

Updating your browser is easy and painless, and will allow you to enjoy the best the web has to offer, in both features and security. Here are a few links where you can find the most recent versions of popular web browsers, all as free downloads:

Download Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP and Vista (For JMU faculty, staff, and students only) (JMU Supported)
Download Internet Explorer 8  for Windows XP and Vista
Download Firefox 3.5 for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux (JMU Supported)
Download Safari 4 for Windows XP and Vista, and Mac OS X (JMU Supported)
Download Chrome for Windows XP and Vista